I have low RPM handheld random orbital buffer. Can I use that to apply a polish to try and get rid of some light scratches? I am a little intimidated by the porter cable and I dont want to rub off all my clearcoat.

 

First, low speed orbitals are really only useful for applying and removing wax. They just don't have enough power to do any kind of defect removal what so ever. In order to remove defects with a PC you have to turn the speed up to at least 5 (top speed setting is 6). So, if you have to turn the PC up this high there is no way you could do anything productive with a lesser powered orbital.

Second, there is absolutely no reason for you to be intimidated by the PC. It's 99% as safe as your low speed orbital. You can burn paint with a PC, but it's REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hard to do.

I suggest you put up a thread in your local forum to find someone who already owns a PC. Maybe you can get together with them for a detailing day and they will let you try out their machine so that you can get a feel for it and be more comfortable.

 

Honestly, I had my buddy who has never detailed his car ever (including washing) using a PC on his own car in 15 minutes... easy as can be.

 

another vote for the pc right here... really not that much more money than the cheap random orbitals, but worth it imo.
the pc is a workhorse. they seem to last forever and do a great job and really are not very expensive.

 

Low speed orbitals are MURDER on your paint. I had a friend of mine ruin his entire fender because he used a crappy 20 dollar orbital. REAL orbitals spin EXTREMELY fast, and are very hard to use....a lot of skill is involved. Get a PC.....you are a long way away from using a true orbital.

 

I disagree. If your friend damaged his paint with a cheap orbital, he could just as easily damage his paint with a Porter Cable.

To the thread starter, a Porter Cable is an orbital.

 

What?!?! I think you're thinking of a rotary buffer which is a completely different tool from an orbital buffer.

Again . . . what?!?!? I can't imagine someone damaging their car with a low speed orbital unless they dropped it on the car. Sounds like your friend is dangerous even with just a towel.

 

I prefer the low speed orbital buffer, saves me arm from taking wax off.
I apply the wax or polish manually then use the buffer with a microfibre pad, to take the wax or polish off. Works great and no buffer burns that I've seen on too many cars out there.

 

*EDIT* Sorry.....It was late and for some reason, my brain confused orbital with rotary. I meant to say Rotary. Low speed rotaries are murder on your paint, and rotary buffers are hard to use.

My mistake.

 

All those buffer burns are from people using a rotary buffer. Orbital buffers even higher speed ones like the PC are very safe.